MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Ninth-seed Angelique Kerber shook off a second-set blip to advance to the second round of the Australian Open on Monday with a 6-3 0-6 6-2 win over local wildcard Jarmila Gajdosova. After an error-strewn first set, the 26-year-old Gajdosova looked out of the match in the second when she rolled her left ankle on Rod Laver Arena and needed a medical timeout in the opening game. The injury somehow sparked a comeback from Gajdosova, who exploited Kerber's weak service game, and local fans began to believe she might advance to the second round at Melbourne Park for the first time in nine attempts.

TOKYO, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund, the world's largest pension fund, on Tuesday said Boston-based Wellington Management Company is the ninth manager of its $161 billion foreign stock portfolio. In September, the fund appointed eight managers for the foreign equity portion of its entire $1.2 trillion portfolio. It is targeting higher returns as payouts are increasing because of a rapidly ageing population. Wellington manages some $774 billion worth of assets.

WELLINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - New Zealand beat West Indies by an innings and 73 runs when they bowled the visitors out for 175 in their second innings after tea on the third day of the second test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday. New Zealand 441 (R. Taylor 129, BJ Watling 65; T. Best 4-110) v West Indies 193 (K. Edwards 55, M. Samuels 60; T. Boult 6-40) & 175 (T. Boult 4-40) (Compiled by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by Patrick Johnston)

Dec 10 (Reuters) - A new domestic rugby championship will be introduced in Australia next year with the aim of providing the same kind of talent pathways enjoyed by southern hemisphere rivals New Zealand and South Africa, the Australian Rugby Union said. Australia's lack of depth and development has been exposed in recent years with nothing to bridge the gap between metropolitan club rugby and professional Super Rugby. By contrast, New Zealand continues to groom players through their semi-professional national provincial championship, while South Africa has a similar pathway through the Currie Cup. "The competition will be an exciting spectacle for fans and will enhance the pathway to develop elite players, coaches and match officials," ARU Chief Executive Bill Pulver said in a statement on Tuesday.

WELLINGTON, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Sonny Bill Williams's "flip-flop" on playing for New Zealand at rugby league's World Cup later this month has turned the sport's governing body into a laughing stock, one influential newspaper columnist said on Thursday. The 28-year-old Williams was a late inclusion in Stephen Kearney's world champion Kiwis squad on Wednesday, forcing the coach to drop Melbourne forward Tohu Harris. Williams, who won Australia's National Rugby League title with the Sydney Roosters on Sunday, had ruled himself out of the World Cup in order to take a holiday before he changed his mind.

WELLINGTON, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Argentina tighthead prop Matias Diaz has joined the Otago Highlanders on a one-year contract, the Super Rugby franchise said on Wednesday. The 20-year-old Diaz has won four caps for the Pumas and started the opening match of this season's Rugby Championship against South Africa, before he was dropped back to the bench for the second game. "We're really excited about Matias joining the team for next season," Highlanders general manager Roger Clark said in a statement.